David Skaggs: “on August 4 the majority party passed a provision in the Labor-HHS appropriations bill sponsored by the gentleman from…”

“on August 4 the majority party passed a provision in the Labor-HHS appropriations bill sponsored by the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Istook] that was designed, if you can believe this, to restrict the first amendment rights of everyone in America if they receive anything of value from the Federal Government, restrict their employees and those with whom they do business. The Istook language, however, exempts those who contract with the Federal Government, as opposed to receiving a benefit or thing of value. I watched, therefore, with great interest during the consideration of the defense appropriations bill just a week ago today when there was a discussion between the gentlewoman from Colorado [Mrs. Schroeder] and the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, the gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. Livingston] about whether the political speech and activities of defense contractors should also be limited. As the Speaker will remember, the gentlewoman from Colorado [Mrs. Schroeder] offered an amendment that was a watered down version of the political activities restriction the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Istook] and the majority party had endorsed in August in the appropriations bill.”